The Universal Audio Volt 2 Gen 2 is a compact, bus-powered USB-C audio interface with two inputs and four outputs. It suits recording vocals and instruments at home or on the road, two-person sessions, podcasts and streaming, and it is a sensible first interface. It replaces the original Volt 2 and adds 32-bit/192 kHz conversion, three tone modes and a colour display.
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2-in/4-out at 32-bit/192 kHz: two mic/line combo inputs, a stereo monitor output and a headphone output with its own cue mix
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Tone Shaping preamps: two preamps with 60 dB of digitally controlled gain and three modes, Warmth, Focus and Shine, set separately for each channel
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Auto-Gain with Clip Protection: sets input levels for you and guards against overloads
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Per-channel 48V phantom power and two front-panel Hi-Z instrument inputs
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Built-in loopback for podcasting and live streaming
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UAD Volt Studio Bundle: LUNA Free plus UAD Native plug-ins such as the LA-2A, 1176, Pure Plate and Galaxy Tape Echo
The three tone modes each draw on a different circuit. Warmth is modelled on UA's 610 tube preamp, Focus on an American solid-state console and Shine on British Class-A designs. Because each channel has its own mode, you can track a vocal through one mode and a guitar through another in the same take. The colour of the ring around the display shows which mode is active, and direct monitoring includes the tone processing, so what you hear while tracking matches what you record.
One push encoder handles gain, volume, mute, channel linking and the Clip Protection menu. Next to it are dedicated buttons for TONE, 48V, INPUT, AUTO, DIRECT and Monitor/Headphone. Hold INPUT to link both channels as a stereo pair, or hold AUTO to run Auto-Gain across all inputs. Plugging a guitar or bass into a front Hi-Z jack overrides the rear combo jack on that channel and turns its phantom power off. For amp-modelling plug-ins, UA suggests setting gain to 0 rather than using Auto-Gain on the instrument inputs.
The Volt 2 Gen 2 is class-compliant on Mac, iPad and iPhone. On Windows it runs with the ASIO driver from UA Connect. It draws power over USB and also has a separate USB-C power input. UAD Console and LUNA give you session recall and low-latency cue mixes. A Kensington security port is built in. If you need optical input, MIDI or a second headphone output, look at the Volt 2 Max instead.